Second-year student Pat Fang recently spent a day in The Grove alongside UC Davis Undergraduate Education leader Michael Bradford as part of the UC Davis Leadership Job Shadow Program.

Fang attended team meetings with Academic Advising Enrichment and the Undergraduate Research Center, two of the 10 units housed within the Office of Undergraduate Education, also referred to as UE. Throughout the afternoon, he joined Bradford, vice provost and dean, in various leadership meetings, including sitting down with Malisa Lee, vice provost for Enrollment Management and Milmon Harrison, associate vice provost for Undergraduate Education.

"I had no idea what UE encompassed when I signed up for this opportunity," said Fang, a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. "The UE mission really incorporates all the units that support students, faculty and advisors with the essential resources to succeed at Davis."

Chancellor Gary S. May launched the UC Davis Leadership Job Shadow Program in 2018 with the goal to introduce students to campus leaders and demystify what takes place behind closed doors.

"Allowing students to engage with campus leaders hands on helps them learn about the different qualities it takes to effectively guide a university and its varied units while also gaining insight into the many opportunities available to support their academic journey," Bradford said.

Participation in the job shadow program is offered through a website application. Each quarter, different campus leaders host students for a day to experience how their roles function. Universities the size of UC Davis function similarly to large corporations, and the options offered are often beyond what students might think of when considering what this program may offer them. Opportunities to shadow leaders can include campus units in athletics, strategic communications, campus council, DEI and the Office of Research. 

"It was a really productive day with loads of back-to-back meetings," said Fang. "I was thrilled to sit side by side with campus leaders and witness the changes they are making to leverage campuswide student resources."

The next opportunity for students interested in applying for the job shadow program is April 2-12.